Government to promote tourism industry in China

LAST week’s DestinationQ Forum heralded a new opportunity for further growth in the Whitsunday tourism market, with the state government announcing a new initiative prompoting Queensland to China.

The forum, held in Noosa over September 16 and 17, was attended by the Premier Campbell Newman, Tourism Minister Jann Stuckey, along with hundreds of other stakeholders from State Government, local councils and the tourism industry.

Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Jenny Whitney welcomed the Queensland Government’s announcement.

“This will significantly boost tourism to the Whitsunday region, with our region already identified as a destination of choice by the Chinese tourism market,” she said.

“The State Government will be promoting Queensland through television and radio advertising in China, and through partnerships with prominent travel agencies across Greater China. I understand the Government’s focus will be on families in Shanghai, Taiwan and Hong Kong.”

Mayor Whitney said the last couple of years had already seen the Whitsundays’ Chinese tourism market undergo significant growth and that council had contributed to the increase through fostering business links and last year’s trade mission to China.

“Along with WMDL, Council has also helped grow the Chinese market by developing the Whitsunday region as a Chinese New Year destination in February,” she said.

“Growing the number of Greater Chinese visitors to the Whitsunday region will significantly boost overnight visitor expenditure and will help create jobs now and in the future, for our region.”